I thought book 1 was great, but book 2 was over the top. I couldn't put it down. It was a very fast paced mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire book. Sure hope there is a book 3. I highly recommend it.

Three cheers to author Colleen Coble. It is refreshing to read an excellent suspense/romance book free of foul language and extreme violence.

The House at Saltwater Point is the second in the Lavender Tide series.
Fast pace, full of suspense and action filled. A must read.

Thank you Thomas Nelson and Netgalley the opportunity to read and review, Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is a very fast-paced book that made me want to ignore all of my life to read. This is my first book by Colleen Coble and it will not be my last. For fans of Dee Henderson & Terri Blackstock, you will enjoy this author. It was a refreshing change with a clean wholesome book that did not make me cringe with the main characters' language or behavior.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

This is book two in the Lavender Tides series. It can be read as a stand alone but I think it would help to read the first book to fully understand the story. With the threats of North Korea and ISIS being in the news, this novel is very believable. Ellie is such a sweet character and reminds me of 'the girl next door.' Mac is so self centered that it's hard to have sympathy for her. I'm glad Shauna’s search for her siblings is coming to fruition and am anxious to read the next installment. Highly recommended!

Coble is back with another gripping story. This one builds on the first in the Lavendar Tides series, but stands well on its own. Grayson's life has been upended with news that he was adopted. Ellie's life has been overturned by the disappearance and likely death of her sister. Grayson is determined to show that Mac was behind a cocaine theft, while Ellie is desperate to prove that her sister is still alive and innocent. Through twists and turns the two spend time together trying to work the way to the truth. It's complicated, layered, twisted, and a good read. One that romantic suspense readers will thoroughly enjoy.

Colleen Coble is one of my go-to authors, so I didn’t waste anytime diving into an ARC of her newest book, The House at Saltwater Point—the second book in her Lavender Tides series. This book fares well as a standalone, but reading the first in the series (The View from Rainshadow Bay) gives a bit of background and familial ties. (Grayson is related to Shauna, the main character in the first book.)

I appreciate Ms. Coble’s writing style, infusing her stories with suspense, mystery, romance, and spirituality. Her characters are well crafted and her scenes are vivid. I do have to mention that it took me a little while to fully connect with Ellie, even though I immediately sympathized with her search for her sister.

Great pacing and themes. I look forward to more in this series.

4 Stars

Cover: Love
Title: Love
Pages: 352
Series: Lavender Tides Book 2
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
First Line: Two construction workers carried in the orange ladder splatted with dried paint blotches and old drywall mud.
I received a complimentary copy from BookLook and NetGalley.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Colleen Coble always writes an exciting story. The House at Saltwater Point in the second book in the series and there are people from the first book in this one. Ellie Blackmore's sister has disappeared and suspected of faking her own death. Coast Guard intelligence officer Grayson Bradshaw, believes her sister is involved with missing cocaine shipment he is trying to find. There is an attraction between them but they both believe a different truth about what happened. Can they discover what really happened? Great story and can't wait to read more!

Colleen Coble is an excellent writer of suspense, taking the reader to the edge. Two of the things I loved about this story involve the sisters, Ellie and MacKenzie. One is a true hero in the strongest sense of the word. She puts her life on the line for the people she loves. The other is shown as a totally flawed human being in need of grace. The setting is lovely, I could almost smell the lavender. Grayson Bradshaw's story is complicated. But in the midst of the craziness, it is good to meet a man of honor. Coble's story is timely and in accord with current events. The book reminded me to give thanks for people putting their lives on the line every day. Both military and investigative units—so we can be free. If you enjoy NCIS Los Angeles or any of the shows or stories that focus on those who keep us safe, you'll love The House at Saltwater Point. I received this book from NetGalley with no expectation of a good or bad review.

The House at Saltwater Point is the first for me by Colleen Coble. It was defiantly a page turner. I really tried to get it read in one sitting.

This book was amazing. So many twists and turns. I did not see the ending coming. I knew there was an HEA but not the way it turned out. The characters are well written, and believable. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

The House at Saltwater Point is the second novel in Colleen Coble’s Lavender Tides series. These books are set on the beautiful northern coast of the Olympic Peninsula. Ellie Blackmore, owner of her own house flip and renovation firm, is drawn into a world of international intrigue when her sister, Mackenzie, disappears from her clipper, the Lavender Lady, leaving behind a pool of blood.

When Coast Guard Inspector Grayson Bradshaw confronts her regarding Mackenzie and her part in the theft of a cache of cocaine that the Coast Guard had confiscated, Ellie is quick to defend her sister, not believing a word of it. That is until Grayson shows her video of the heist showing Mackenzie orchestrating the theft.

But it doesn’t seem that Mackenzie is the only Blackmore sister being targeted after several attempts are made on Ellie. The pair then joins forces to discover what happened to Mackenzie and, in their search they end up thwarting an international terrorist attack proliferated by a combined North Korean/ISIS effort.

Colleen Coble is a queen of the suspense filled thriller. As in her other such novels, there are unexpected twists and turns and heartwarming subplots. The story’s climax will have you reading as fast as you can, flipping pages until the dramatic heart pounding conclusion. I do recommend this book and anxiously await Ms. Coble’s next offering.

Sometimes you just know that you're going to love a book before you even start reading it. That's how I felt when I started reading The House at Saltwater Point by Colleen Coble. Colleen is one of my favorite authors of Christian suspense. Her stories are so well-thought-out and perfectly executed!

I have loved so many of Colleen's books and series. Twilight at Blueberry Barrens was my favorite until today! The House at Saltwater Point has now taken its place at the top! It's the second book in the Lavender Tides series.

Ellie Blackmoor is a house flipper in the little town of Lavender Tides. Her only family is her sister, Mackenzie. When Mackenzie mysteriously disappears, Ellie is determined to find her. But Mackenzie's disappearance isn't all that it seems. Grayson Bradshaw, a Coast Guard investigator, has evidence that Mackenzie stole some cocaine, and may be a North Korean spy. Ellie isn't convinced, and she'll do whatever it takes to prove her sister's innocence.

But the evidence against Mackenzie keeps piling up. It's getting harder and harder for Ellie to defend her sister. Even though she has no idea what her sister has been up to, Ellie seems to be a target for someone. Grayson is determined to keep Ellie safe, but it's getting harder since they don't know who the bad guys even are. As Grayson and Ellie begin to realize their feelings for one another, the fight for their lives gets even more personal--and dangerous.

Not only is The House at Saltwater Point now my favorite Coble book, Ellie and Grayson are my new favorite of her characters! Ellie is an amazing person, talented and smart, but she can't see it. Her family went through a tragedy when she was very young, and not only did she blame herself, but her parents did, too. Because of that she's always hidden herself behind a wall of self-protection. (I have to say, I hope there's more to that story, too!)

Grayson is the perfect person to bring her out. He recently discovered that everything he's always thought about his life was a lie, and now he's stepping into a whole new reality. His determination to bring down the terrorist to killed his partner and left him with a permanent limp is matched only by his determination to protect the woman he's starting to love. He sees past her fence to the true Ellie and he's falling fast. But, first, he has to find out what happened to her sister, and together they need to foil a major terrorist plot.

I loved Ellie's vulnerability, and Grayson's strength. I loved that Ellie wasn't sure someone like Grayson could love her. And I loved that Grayson proved it to her!

A great aspect of this book is its continuation from the first book in the series, The View from Rainshadow Bay. That book ended with Zach Bannister locating his wife, Shauna's, long-lost brother. Conner went missing after the earthquake that killed their mother when he was only two. At the beginning of this second book, Shauna and Zach are going to meet him in Hope Beach, North Carolina. I loved this part since Hope Beach is the setting of another great Coble series. Some of those characters even make cameo appearances in this book. Also, I'm excited for the next installment in this series, because there is a teaser that an important character will be coming from Rock Harbor, Michigan. In case you don't know, that's also the setting of another series!

This novel has everything you could hope for a romantic suspense. There's a pretty girl, a handsome guy, unknown assailants, kidnapping, murder, North Korean spies, EMPs, stolen drugs, FBI agents, and more! The setting of this series in the fictional town of Lavender Tides is beautiful, too. I always wish I could go there when I read. I feel connected to the places and people, and the more I read in a series, the better they get! The description of Ellie's little house left me sighing with longing, and wanting to paint everything aqua, since it's also my favorite color!

I usually point this out when I read a great Christian romance or suspense novel, but I think it bears repeating. This book is as good as anything you'll read in the secular market. But you won't find blood and gore, filthy or off-color language, or violent or sexual scenes. That's really important to me. I always like reading books that don't leave me feeling dirty, but that aren't dry and boring either. And you'll never use those words to describe The House at Saltwater Point!

This is such a great book, and a wonderful example of Collen Coble's unique storytelling. I recommend this whole series to lovers of romance, suspense--or home renovations! Don't miss it!



I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.

I was hooked from the moment Mac disappeared; I had to know what happened to her. With the amount of blood at the scene the question isn’t just where is she but is she still alive?

I found myself quickly connecting with Ellie and feeling for her. The situation with her sister missing was bad enough but then you add in the accusation that Mac is guilty of a crime and that someone appears to be after her things get pretty overwhelming for Ellie. Grayson, a Coast Guard investigator who is looking for Mac, agrees to allow Ellie to help him find Mac. They have differing opinions about Mac but learn to work together through it.

So many twists and turns happened that I was kept guessing who was behind what was going on and what the motive was. There were a lot of characters introduced that at times it was hard to keep everyone straight or how they even connected. When a character who I thought was minor showed up later on I had to remind myself of who they were.

As much as I wanted to know what happened to Mac it was the character relationships that I loved the most about the story. I enjoyed following Grayson as he learned about his past and began to accept his new reality. Ellie was fiercely loyal to Mac and wouldn’t listen to anyone who tried to tell her something different than what she believed about her. I enjoyed watching the development of the relationship between Grayson and Ellie and liked the way it was left. The unanswered question of Shauna and Grayson’s sister leads readers to believe there will be a third book to this series. I will be keeping an eye out for it. (I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.)

'Nothing could define her unless she let it. She had God in her life to heal those broken places, but she hadn't let him do it."

Ellie Blackmore flips houses and is happy doing it. In fact, the next house she flips is her dream house and she intends to keep it as her own. Then her sister, MacKenzie goes missing and she begins to learn things about her that aren't all that pleasant. MacKenzie's boat has blood stains on it and she is believed to be dead. Mac's ex husband and she are on bad terms but surely he wouldn't kill her.

Coast Guard investigator Grayson Bradshaw comes to investigate a lot of missing cocaine and suspects MacKenzie of the theft. Then he himself learns something shocking and surprising about his own life. Things are not always what they seem.

Ellie and Grayson are both attracted to one another, but will his suspicions about her sister derail that attraction? They must work together to discover the evil at work here.

From international intrigue, terrorism and family secrets, Colleen Coble again weaves her deft hand at mysteries. I have been a fan for a very long time and will continue to be. This is one of her best. Highly recommended.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers through Net Galley. The opinions stated in the review above are entirely my own.

The House at Saltwater Point is the second installment from Colleen Coble's exciting series, Lavender Tides. I enjoyed this suspense filled novel. There were so many twists and turns I did not expect. It held my attention so much, that I had no problem turning the pages.
I give The House at Saltwater Point 4 ½ stars. I can not wait to see what the author has in store next in the series. A good, clean, romantic suspense.
Recommended.

Another great mystery/ love story from Colleen Coble.. I enjoyed this story. I loved the setting and the old house. It kept me guessing trying to figure it all out. I like the fact that she included a terror threat that is so relevant to the time now. This was not one of my favorites by her but it was a great read nevertheless.
I was given a copy to read by Thomas Nelson through Netgalley (thank you) but the opinions are entirely my own.

I love clean fictions mysteries. I have read a lot of them, and really enjoy the tie-ins of faith and struggle. That doesn't mean that everything in the genre is any good, and this book falls into the "ugh- not-another-one" category.

It felt like the author had an idea for a mystery, and then couldn't figure out how to make it come about, so some really far-fetched things happened to push the plot along. There were a lot of eye rolls from me while reading this book, and a few times I laughed out loud- it's not a comedy. That's how unbelievable the entire plot line was.

I was not aware that this was a second book in a series, but that might explain why there were so many characters in this book. They just kept showing up! People everywhere! Dogs and cats with names to keep track of. So confusing. And a woman whose nickname is Mac, but who is referred to as Mackenzie multiple times, which also made that confusing.

The romance elements in this book seemed very juvenile. I don't mind a bit of romance in a book, but this was poorly developed and written. I honestly have a hard time believing a grown woman wrote any portion of this book. It reads like a teenager wrote their first mystery novel. (I am sorry if that is harsh. It's true.) There are just so many holes in the story, and things that couldn't possibly have happened that are key elements of the book.

What church could go on a missions trip to a communist country? Who goes on a missions trip with their church, and decides to stay longer in said communist country without anyone batting an eye, or her needing special permission to extend her stay? Why is an international terrorist hanging around in a small town in Washington? How did a grown woman think getting involved in trying to solve a crime just to prove to her sister she was 'somebody' believable? How is the husband of a woman whose siblings were given up for adoption allowed to research on her behalf? Why would someone just jump into the life of a sibling they hadn't seen since childhood and expect there not to be repercussions? How can the ex-husband of one of the main characters be described as still being in love with his ex-wife, and then later in the book almost have a hatred for her? Was it to make him seem somehow guilty of something? I have so so many issues with this book...and I haven't listed them all...

The faith element is also not a prominent story line in this book. I don't always need that in the books I read, but if it's labeled as Christian fiction, I think it ought to be included more heavily than it was in this book.

I don't think I'll be looking for any more books by this author in a long while, if ever.

I liked this book but it wasn't one of my favorites. While I did like the story idea it was a little slow in the middle. Too many different characters, I had to go back and remind myself who some of them were. For some reason the ending didn't seem finished to me. I've lived in WA before and enjoyed the references.

Colleen Coble nails it again with an action-packed realistic/romance fiction book. Ellie's sister goes missing and Coast Guard intelligence officer Grayson is bent on proving that Ellie's sister was NOT as innocent as Ellie wants to believe. This is book 2 of the Lavender Tides Series, but easy to read even if you haven't read book 1. Action packed, clean-cut, great read that is almost impossible to put down once you start reading it!

Really enjoyed this book! It begins pulling you in at the first page and doesn't let up. Very excited to see this is part of a series, because I fell in love with the characters. Believable story line with current events (terrorism, North Korea politics) home improvement information ( the main character writes a blog about DIY) , adoption, and a new romance thrown in...you've got a great read. I have read some of Colleen's work before and have loved it, and this book is no exception. This is a perfect summer read, with intrigue, characters that you relate with and root for. Thanks to #NetGalley for this opportunity to read early!

The book was interesting. Keeping you wondering at the intregue and mystery. Got mixed up with characters and had to go back to reiterate who they were, felt this could have been handled better. But apart from that it was an enjoyable book.